Abstract

HeiferPlusTM is a new sperm sexing agent used to increase the percentage of heifer calves in dairy and beef cattle by enhancing the fertility and the motility of the X-chromosome bearing sperm. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of HeiferPlusTM treatment on sperm functional parameters of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa assessed by cytofluorimetric analysis such as sperm viability (by using propidium iodide probe), acrosome reaction (by using PNA-FITC probe), sperm chromatin stability (by using acridine orange probe) basal ROS determination (by using DCFH-DA probe) and mitochondrial activity (by using JC-1 probe). The HeiferPlusTM treatment induced a significant (p<0.05) reduction of: sperm viability, basal ROS level and mitochondrial function, while sperm chromatin stability, measured as %-DNA fragmentation index (DFI), mean DFI and SD-DFI was not affected by the treatment. Concerning acrosome reaction, it was already observed a significant increase (p<0.05) of reacted live spermatozoa after 1,5 h incubation in either the presence or absence of Ca2+ in the semen treated with HeiferPlusTM compared to 0 h, while in the untreated semen the increase of reacted live spermatozoa was observed only after 3h incubation in presence of Ca2+. The treatment seems to affect some functional parameter of bull spermatozoa and to anticipate acrosome reaction.

Autore Pugliese

• Minervini Fiorenza

Tutti gli autori

• Guastamacchia R.; Minervini F.; Garbetta A.; Barile V.L.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Reproduction in domestic animals

Anno di pubblicazione

2013

ISSN

0936-6768

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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